Reaching out to the marooned in Chennai and adjoining areas, the Centre today dispatched 17 tonnes of snacks, including noodles and biscuits, 5,000 litres of milk and 1 lakh bottles of drinking water as essential relief items.
The decision was taken during a meeting here of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, to review the reeling flood situation in Tamil Nadu.
It was also decided to send 5 more columns of the army for the task in addition to the 9 existing units in the state. A column of the army has about 75 troops.
"It was decided at the meeting that ready to eat food and water bottles may be supplied based on the requirement of state government. 7 tonnes of biscuits, 10 tonnes of noodles and 5,000 litres of milk are being made available and 1 lakh water bottles have already been made available to the Municipal Corporation in Chennai," an official statement said.
It said Sinha directed authorities to restore telecom and power services with "utmost priority" in the state.
The top bureaucrat of the government also directed authorities that adequate supply of petroleum products at terminals and retail outlets may be ensured in Tamil Nadu.
"Advance action may be taken to address the possibility of any diseases. Coordination meetings at state and central level be held with telecom providers to ensure quick restoration of telecom services. Necessary steps for speedy restoration of Chennai Airport be undertaken," the meeting decided.
(REOPENS DEL111)
It said commercial airlines are now operating from the Naval airbase at Arakkonam, till the civil airport in Chennai becomes functional.
"As informed by IMD, the low pressure system along the coast of south India is stationary. However, continued vigilance and constant monitoring of the situation will be ensured by all agencies of the government," the statement added.
It was also informed that a total of 50 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams will be taking position in the state by tonight.
Meanwhile, the force said it has evacuated 11,387 people to safer locations till 8pm today, even as its relief teams distributed 12,038 food packets and 8,530 water pouches in the marooned areas and to the rescued.
The NCMC meeting was attended by secretaries from various key ministries and departments like Home Ministry, National Disaster Management Authority, NDRF, Indian Meteorological Department, Head Quarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), civil aviation, health and family and welfare, power, railways, Department of Telecommunication.
The Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House in Delhi was present in the meeting while the Chief Secretary and Relief Commissioner of the state participated through the video conference link.
